Guitars Playing Lute Music

Lutes used to be extremely popular. Now they have been almost completely replaced by guitars. Guitars clearly have some advantages over lutes. They are usually easier to tune and play. They are also easier to make. It shouldn't be a surprise, then, that it is often easier to find lute music played on guitars than on the original lutes.

I don't believe, however, that a guitar is a proper replacement for a lute. There is a substantial difference in sound. It seems that most composers for lute have taken the peculiarities of the lute into consideration and their music reflects this. As a result, I find that lute music played on a lute usually sounds much better than the same music performed on guitar.

This collection of videos is a good opportunity to hear some fine lute music played on guitar. If you wish, you can compare this to my collection of lute videos.

Please don't think I'm criticising guitars or guitar players. I am a guitarist myself and have attempted some of the lute repertoire. I think it is great that guitarists are playing lute music. I really enjoy these videos. There's just something special about lute music played on actual lutes.


Bach Double on the Classical Guitar



Peo Kindgren Plays Dowland



Peo Kindgren Plays Dowland's Frog Galliard



Peo Kindgren Plays Dowland's Sir John Smith His Almain



Francisco Burgos Plays Alman by Robert Johnson



Peo Kindren Plays Bach Prelude



Prelude



Bach Prelude



Aaron Brock Plays Bach



Bach Suite 3 for Lute-Prelude



Bach Lute Suite No. 1 in E Minor, Allemande



Menuet by Silvius Leopold Weiss


See also Lute Videos and the article Lutes Verses Guitars.